Chancellor
This coverage examines how the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s policies and fiscal decisions influence the UK retail industry. Retail Sector reports on Budget announcements, tax reforms, business rates, wage policies, and economic measures that affect retailers’ operating costs, investment strategies, and consumer spending power. Coverage includes expert analysis, industry reactions, and commentary on how government policy impacts supply chains, employment, and the broader retail economy. For retail professionals, this category delivers essential insight into the financial and regulatory environment shaping strategic planning and performance across the sector.
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Mar- 2021 -3 MarchCoronavirus
Budget 2021: Chancellor unveils new £65bn support package
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined a new £65bn support package in his March budget, confirming the decision to extend the furlough scheme until the end of September as well as new loan schemes of up to £10m for businesses. In what is Sunak’s second budget since he joined office in…
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3 MarchGovernment
Sunak to extend furlough scheme until September
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to extend the furlough scheme until September as part of his March Budget which will be announced today (3 March). According to The Times, Sunak will state that the country is in a “moment of crisis” as he extends furlough for another five months, taking…
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1 MarchCoronavirus
Chancellor to unveil £5bn high-street support package
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to offer over 700,000 retail, hospitality and other businesses grants of up to £18,000 as part of a £5bn rescue package to be included in his Budget speech on Wednesday (3 March). The new ‘Restart Grants’ will be directly distributed from local authorities from April…
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Feb- 2021 -24 FebruaryCoronavirus
Chancellor expected to extend furlough until May
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce a further extension to the government’s furlough scheme until May in his Budget speech next week. According to The Times, the move is expected after Boris Johnson promised not to “pull the rug out” from businesses when restrictions eventually begin to ease under…
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23 FebruaryGovernment
Gov should ‘remain flexible’ when lifting retail ban, says BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said the government should “remain flexible” and allow non-essential retailers to reopen as soon as the data suggests it is safe to do so. The statement comes in response to Boris Johnson’s roadmap’ out of lockdown, where the PM said it is possible that…
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19 FebruaryGovernment
Sunak to delay review of business rates until autumn
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to reveal that he will delay a final report on the review of business rates until later this year. According to The Financial Times, the delay of the report, which was set to consider the introduction of an online sales tax, comes as the chancellor…
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11 FebruaryEconomy
Non-food retailers see £22bn sales hit due to Covid
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is reporting that the country’s three national lockdowns have cost ‘non-food’ stores – mainly ‘non-essential’ retail – an estimated £22bn in lost sales. The trade association said stricter restrictions in the crucial run-up to Christmas hampered retailers’ ability to generate much-needed turnover, which would have…
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8 February
Sunak mulls ‘Amazon Tax’ to help with UK debts
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is allegedly considering a double tax raid on online retailers such as Amazon who profited during the pandemic. According to The Sunday Times, leaked emails show that Treasury officials have already called for tech firms and retailers to meet this month ahead of the March budget to…
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Jan- 2021 -26 JanuaryCoronavirus
Unemployment rises 5% to 1.7m
The UK unemployment rate rose by 5% in the three months to November with over 1.7 million people now out of work, according to the latest figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Since February 2020, the number of payroll employees has fallen by 828,000, however, the ONS said…
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25 JanuaryBusiness Bites
Five retailers who excelled during the Christmas season
Asos Asos has gone from strength to strength in the past few years with this year being no different. Over the peak festive season it saw its sales increase by 23% to £1.32bn from £1.074bn the previous year, which the group claimed was due to support by investors who…
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